Oil return system for deep well turbine pumps



J. M. HAIT May 26, 1936.

3 SheetS-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 11,. 1934 lNvENirOR Jc'zmes M. Haz' AT TOR NEY /f//f/., tvs-, F H 1 n r\, n P s 5 ww f a M l j 3 a May26,1"936 1M. Hm 2,041,999

OILRETURN SYSTEM FOR DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMPS Filed sp 11, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 2 y //////l////////////17/l/// INVENTR @J'QmesM Haz ATTORNEY J. M. HAIT May 26,1936.

. onl RETURN SYSTEM FoR DEEP wELL TURBINE PUMPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 1]., 1934 lill,

n n I IN VE NTOR Jmes Mffaz' Y/ A'ToRNEY Patented May 2.6, 1936 OIL RETURN SYSTEM FOR DEEP WELL TURBINE PUMPS James M. Hait, San Marino, Calif., assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application september 11, 1994, serial No. 743,562

' as claims. (ci. 10s-1oz) This invention has to do in a. general way with water wells for domestic and industrial purposes and has as its primary object the provision of improvements in pumps of the class described wherein the lubricant employed in lubricating the line shaft bearings is so controlled that it does not enter either the well water or the water being pumped whereby contamination of the water is eliminated.

It is one object of this invention to provide a. lubricating system for pumps of the class described. wherein the lubricant may be delivered into the line shaft enclosing tubing by the socalled drip method and is withdrawn from the enclosing' tubing through a water seal into an lsolated accumulating reservoir from which it may be' raised to the surface of the ground from time to time as it accumulates. Y

My invention employs, in combination, a bleeder or by-pass port connecting the enclosing tubing with the water of the well at 'a point between the pump and the region of oil removal whereby the upper portion of the enclosing tubing and the reservoirl are maintained under the normal static head of the well itself. In this way I take ad-. vantage of the difference in specic gravity between water and oil to maintain a water seal betweensthe body of accumulated oil and the water mittent purging operation, there-can be 'no drain l back of oil into the well, such as would be occasioned by the use of an oil pumpat the bot;

tom of the well, when the pump is shut down.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the class described in which they oil is removed from the enclosing tubing by a ourrent of water which is set in motion by the rotation of the shaft whereby the device is not subject to loss iny emciency or being rendered inoperative through continued use and wear of parts.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which is of simple form and construction and may be incorporated in the standard types of turbine pumps without material changes or modifications.

'I'he details in the construction of certain preferred embodiments of my invention, together with other objects attending its production, will be best understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which are y chosen for illustrative purposes only, and in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view. partly in section, showing a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section in elevation illustrating further details in the construction of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken in a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; As

Fig. 4 is a plan section taken in a plane represented by the'line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing details in the construction'of a modified form of the device shown inFigures 1 to 4, inclul0' sive;

Fig. 6 is a. plan section taken in a plane represented by the line I--G of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view with parts broke away similar to Fig. 1 but showing another modi- 16 fled form of the invention; and

Fig. 8. is an enlarged sectional elevation illustrating further details in the construction of the mechanical pump contemplated by the device shown in Fig. 7. 20

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I'have illustrated in Figures'- 1 to 4, inclusive, a prefer-red form of my invention. As shown in Fig. 1, II designates the well casing and I2the pump head in which is mounted the discharge 25 fitting I3. -Suspended from the discharge fitting is the delivery pipe or tubing I4, to the lower end of which is attached a discharge manifold I5, a bowl assembly I6, the suction manifold I1. the suction pipe I3 and the strainer I9. 30

Within the discharge pipe'gor delivery tubing I4 is the line shaft enclosing tubing 20 through which the .line shaft 2l extends. The line shaft enclosing tubing 20 is provided with a plurality of conventional line shaft bearings`22, 22' and 35 the lower end of such tubing contains a bearing indicated at 22", which in turn is connected at its lower end into the discharge manifold I5.

Arranged below the lower end of the bearing 22A and spaced apart therefrom to form a cham- 40 ber 23 therebetween is a bushing member 24 terminating at or above a by-pass port I2li.

In the discharge manifold I2, secured tothe shaft 2l in any suitable manner and within the chamber- 23, is an impeller 21. Reference nu- 45 meral 28 4designates a discharge outlet for the chamber 23, extending through the discharge manifold I5 in communication with a discharge pipe 29. The pipe 29 is shown as extending upwardly outside the delivery' pipe I4 into the 50 bottom of an accumulator tank orreservoir 30 mounted on the outside of the discharge pipe I4. Reference numerals 3l designates a pipe connected into the top of the accumulator reservoir 30 and extending upwardly in the well4v to a lu- 66 surface of the ground, the pipe 3| discharging into the reservoir 32 near the top thereof.

Mounted on the side of the reservoir 32 is a sightglass 33provided with a pet cock 34. Nu-` meral 35 designates an outlet pipe for the 'lubricant storage reservoir 32 which is connectedl through'a drip-control valve 36 and a conduit 35 into the top bearing 31 for the line shaft 2 I. The

vlubricant fed into this top bearing 31 flows downwardly to lubricate the successive line shaft bearings in the line shaft enclosing tubing 20.

Means are provided fork flushing the accumulator reservoir 30 which consists of a pipe 40 extending through the top of the accumulator reservoir to a point well above the bottom of the same as shown in Fig. 2, such pipe being connected at its upper end into a main discharge pipe 4I on the discharge fitting I3. The

pipe 40 is provided with a valve 42 to control bottom of the reservoir 30 and to a sufficient distance above the bottom to prevent` the entrance of any sediment into this pipe. The bottom-.of the pipe 44 is connected in a duct 45 which is formed in a web of the fitting I5and.

extends through an opening in the bushing member 24 into a circular space 46 formed therein below the'chamber 23 which contains the impeller 21. The top of the pipe 44 is situated a substantial distance below the top of the reservoir 3|) so that the recirculated liquid will be subthis way the liquid in reservoir 30 is under the static head of the water in the well, by virtue of the by-pass ports 25, and due to the diiference in specific gravity between water and oil, it will be observed that the oil is always on the upper surface of the water in the reservoir 30 (and the pipe 3| during purging) so that there is always a static water seal between the body of accumulated oil and the by-pass port 25, which positively prevents any drain-back of oil into the well when the pump is shut down.

The form of the invention just described operates in the following manner: as the line shaft is operated the impeller 21 functions to set up a ow .of liquid from the duct 45 to the duct 28 so that any lubricant which reaches the chamber 23 from the line shaft enclosing tubing is immediately directed through duct 28 into pipe 29 where itis Idelivered into the reservoir 30 and separates from the water therein by gravitation.

Since the chamber 23 is situated above the by-4 pass ports 25, the lubricant is positively removed from they enclosing Atubing before it has an opportunity to seep through the bushing member 24 and find egressl into the water of the well as is the case in the conventional construction now vin use. In order to prevent the reservoir 30 becoming completely fllled with oil (from the top down), the valve 42 will be opened from time to, time to admit water under pressure into the reservoir 30 through the pipe 40. If necessary accumulator reservoir 30'.

2,041,999 .bricant storage reservoir 32 situated above the the valve 43 may be restricted during this operation to assuresuflicient pressure to rapidly lift the oil -in the top of chamber 30 through pipe 3| into the storage reservoir 32. It is to be understood that this ushing or purging operation will occur only at brief intervals from time to time during the operation of the pump, and the frequency of such 'intervals will be governed to a large degree bythe' rate of feed of the lubricant and the size of the accumulator reservoir 30. Any water delivered into the reservoir 32 during the purging operation is withdrawn through the pet cock 34 until the lower oil level, as observed in the gauge glass 33, is below the point of take off for the pipe 35.

In the formof my invention shown in Figures 5' and 6, the parts of the pump assembly are substantially the same as described in connection with Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, as are also the construction of the accumulator reservoir 30 and pipe connections thereto.

In this form of my invention, however, I form the chamber 30 in a fitting 50 on the lower end of the discharge pipe I4 above the discharge manifold I5', Extending through the fitting 50 tangentially of the line shaft 2| is a passage 5I into one end of which is connected the circulating pipe 40', the other end communicating with a pipe 29T..` I- have found that by so arranging the passage 5I, the rotation of the shaft in the directionv of the full line arrows shown in Fig. 4Gcauses a iiow of liquid in the passage 5I in the direction o f the dotted arrows, thereby removing from the chamber 23' accumulation of liquid therein'and discharging `the same into the In the form of my invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, kI place in the delivery pipe I4" a spider 55 which also extends through the-line shaft enclosing tubing This spider is placedin the discharge pipe I4" above the by-pass ports and the lowerbearing 56 of the shaft 2|". The spider being constructed within the tubing 20 with a ring 51 connected to the spider by means of a. iiange 58 forming a cup 59 to receive from a circular defiector 60 mounted on the shaft 2| thereabove, any oil or lubricant in the line shaft enclosing tubing which reaches the ton 63 mounted on a ring 64 which in turn is mounted on an eccentric 65 secured in any suitable manner to the shaft 2|". ment of the piston 63 discharges the contents of the cylinder 62 through a port 66 against the action of a spring-pressed ball valve 61 and through passage 68 into a dischargepipe 69, discharging into any suitable reservoir, lsuch as a tank 10 situated above the ground, in which any water in the lubricant will settle and be drawn off through pipe 1I. A pipe 12 is provided to return the lubricant to the upper bearings of the shaft 2I". l

Itwill'ba apparent from the foregoing descriptionv thaty my invention contemplates a methodof recovering lubricant from the bottom portion lof the line shaftenclosing tubing and that asoiie means of practicing such method it embodies a lubricating system having two directional circulation parallel to the axis of the pump shaft. It is a further feature ofthe preferred forms of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 5, thatulubricant returned from a lower Outward movelevel to an upper level with respect to the' water in the well, intermittently or at periodic intervals, which, as has been pointed out hereinabove, may depend upon the rate at which the lubricant is delivered and the size of -the lubricant receiving reservoir.

While I have shown and described a preferred form and two modifiedA forms of my invention, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the forms lshown but is inclusive of other adaptations which come within the spirit of my invention which includes in its broadest aspect the removal of lubricant from the space between the line shaft and its ,enclosing tubing at a pointbefore it can nd egress into the water of the well. A

I claim as my invention:

1. In a turbine well pump having a line shaft and a shaft enclosing tubing: means at the upper end of said enclosing tubing for introducing lubricant into said enclosing tubing; an accumulator reservoir in said well; means associated with said tubing, at a point below said accumulator reservoir and above said pump, for withdrawing lubricant from said tubing and delivering same into said accumulator reservoir; and means independent of said shaft enclosing tubing for intermittently purging said accumulator reservoir to deliver the liquid therein to the surface of the ground.

2. The method of recovering lubricant from the bottom portion of the line shaft enclosing tubing in a turbinev well pump which comprises: accumulating said lubricant in a quiescent body at the lower portion of said tubing out of contact with the water in the well and the water being pumped and outside of said shaft enclosing tubing; maintaining a circulating water seal between the body of accumulated lubricant and the water in said well; and intermittently applying the pressure of said pump to the accumulated lubricant thereby forcing same to a point above the water inthe well.

3. The method of recovering lubricant from the bottom portion of the line shaft enclosing tubing in a turbine well pump which comprises: accumulating said lubricant in aV relatively large quiescent body at the lower portion of said tubing out of contact with the water` in the welll and outside of said shaft enclosing tubing; main- .taining a circulating water seal between said body of accumulated lubricant and the water in said well and intermittently establishing communication between the discharge of said pump and said body of accumulated lubricant to apply pressure to said lubricant for lifting same to a point above the water of the well.

A4. In a well pump having a vertical drive shaft, a lubricating system embodying: a shaft enclosing tubing for conductinglubricant downwardly along said shaft; means including a reservoir outside of said conducting means and below the water level -in said well, for 'accumulating shaft lubricant; and means controlled by fluid pressure from said pump for intermittently lifting said accumulated lubricant from a point below the level of water in a well being pumped to a point above' said water'level out of contact withthe water in said well, and means for maintaining vthe interior of said enclosing tubingl under the static head of the water in said well."

5. In lcombination with a turbine-well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said means for intermittently applying fluid pressure pressure to the contents of said reservoir; and a shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said shaft enclosing tubing below the water level in said well and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a reservoir mounted on said pump assembly above 5 the level of said circulating chamber and with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connecting said chamber with the bottom of said reservoir;

l0 to the contents of said reservoir; and a pipe for conducting the contents of said reservoir to the surface of the ground during the application of such pressure.

6. In combination with a turbine well pump 15 assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft and a shaft enclosing tubing: a circulating chamber formed in said shaft enclosing tubing below the water level insaid well and enclosing said shaft whereby the rotation of said shaft is effective to set up a circulation of liquid in said chamber, said chamber being adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a water reservoir mounted on said pump assembly above the level of said circulating chamber. with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connecting said chamber with the bottom of said reservoir; means for intermittently applying fluid 30 pipe for conducting the contents of said reservoir to the surface of the ground during the application of such pressure.

7. In combination with a .turbine well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said shaft enclosing tubing below the water level in said well-- .and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a water reservoir mounted von said pump assembly above the level of said circulating chamber and with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connecting said chamber with the bottom of said reservoir; an impeller on said shaft in said circulating chamber for maintaining a circulation of water from said reservoir Ithrough said inlet and outlet .pipes and said chamber and back 50 into said reservoir: means for intermittently applying fluid pressure to the contents of said reservoir; and a pipe for conducting the contents of said reservoir to the surface of the ground during the application of such pressure.

8. In combination with a turbine well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubingz' means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber 60 formed in 5said shaft enclosing tubing below the i water level in said well and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft;

a reservoir mounted on said pump assembly above the level of said circulating chamber and with 65 ya portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connecting saidl chamber with the bottom of said reservoir; means for intermittently applying fluid pressure to the contents of said reservoir; a pipe 70 for conducting the contents of said reservoir Vzo ing chamber and the water reservoir are normally maintained under the static head of the water in said well.

9; In combination with a turbine well pump.

assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said shaft enclosing tubing below the water level in said well and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a reservoir mounted on said pump assembly above the level of said circulating chamber and with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet pipe extending from the bottom of 'formed 'in said shaft `enclosing tubing below the water level in said well and adapted to receive lubricant owing`downward1y along said shaft; a reservoir mounted on said pump assembly above the level of said circulating chamber and with .a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet pipe extending from the 'bottom of said reservoir to the bottom portion of said chamber; an outlet pipe extending from a point between the top and bottom of said chamber to the bottom of said reservoir; an impeller on said shaft in said circulating chamber for maintain ing circulation of liquid from said reservoir through said circulating chamber; means for' intermittently applying iluid pressure to the contents of said reservoir; and a pipe for conducting the contents of saidreservoir to the surface of the ground during the application of such pressure. Y

11. In combination with a turbine well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said shaft enclosing tubing below the water lever in said well and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a reservoir'mounted on said pump assembly above the level of said circulating chamber and with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet pipe extending from the bottom of said reservoir to the bottom of said chamber; an outlet pipe extending from the bottom of said reservoir to a point between the top and. bottom of said chamber; means for intermittently applying fluid pressure to the contents of said reservoir; and a pipe for conducting the contents of said reservoir to the surface of the ground during the application of such pressure. A

12. In combination with aturbine well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit. a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said shaft enclosing tubing below the water lever in said well and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaftz" a l 2,041,999 Vchamber and said pump whereby the circulatreservoir mounted on said pump assembly above the level of said circulating chamber and with a portion thereof below the water levelin said well; an inlet pipe extending from the bottom portion` of said reservoir to the bottom of said chamber; and an outlet pipeextending from a point between the top and bottom'of said chamber to the bottom of said-reservoir.

13. In combination with a turbine Well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in'said shaft enclosing tubing below the water level in said well and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a reservoir mounted on said pump assembly above the level of said circulating chamber and with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet pipe extending from a point above the bottom of said reservoir to the bottom portion of said chamber; an outlet pipe extending from said reservoir to a point in said chamber above the point at which said inlet pipe communicates therewith; means for intermittently applying pressure to the contents of said reservoir; and means for conducting the contents of said reservoir to the surface of the ground.

14. In combination with a well pump having a vertical line shaft, a shaft enclosing tubing, and a water delivery conduit: means for delivering oil into the top of said shaft enclosing tubing; a reservoir mounted on said delivery conduit above said pump with a portion thereof below the level of the water in saidwell; a by-pass connection situated at a point above said pump and below said reservoir and establishing direct communication between the well and the interior of said enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said enclosing tubing at a point above said bypass connection and below the level of the wat/er in said well; .and an inlet and an outlet cnduit, both communicating between said reservoir and spaced points in said circulating chamber, whereby'water is caused to circulate from said .reservoir through said conduits and said chamberand back` into said reservoir during lthe rotation' of saidshaft.

15. In combination with a turbine -well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, Aa line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant intoithe upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said shaftrenclosing tubing below the water level in said well and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a reservoir mounted on said pump assembly above the 'level of said circulating chamber and with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; and an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe connecting said chamber with the bottom of said reservoir, said pipe connections being arranged so as to set up a flow of liquid from sai-d reservoir through said chamber which is countercurrent to the ilow of oil entering said chamber.

16. In combination with a Well pump having a vertical line shaft, a shaft enclosing tubing, and a water delivery conduit; means for delivering oil into the top of said shaft enclosing tubing; a

' reservoir mounted on said delivery conduit above said pump with a portion thereof below the level of the water in said well; a by-pass connection situated at a point above said pump and below said reservoir and establishing direct communication between the well and the interior of said ensaid enclosing tubing at a point above said bypass connection and below the level of the water in said well, whereby oil flowing downwardly along said shaft enters the top of said chamber; and an inlet and outlet conduit, both communieating between said reservoir and spaced points in said circulating chamber whereby`water -is caused to circulate from said reservoir through said conduits and said chamber and back into said reservoir duringthe rotation of said shaft, said conduits being arranged so that the flow of water through said chamber iscountercurrent to the flow o f said oil.

17. In combination with a turbine well pump assembly having a water'delivery conduit, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said shaft enclosing tubing and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a reservoir mounted on said pump assembly with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit connecting said chamber with the bottom of said reservoir; means for intermittently applying fluid pressure to the contents of said reservoir; and a conduit for conducting the contents of said reservoir to the surface of the ground during-the application of such pressure.

18. In combination with a turbine well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a lineshaft and a shaft enclosing tubing: a circulating chamber adapted to receive' lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft, said circulating chamber being formed in said shaft enclosing tubing and surrounding said shaft whereby the rotation of said shaft is effective to set up a circulation of liquid through lsaid chamber; a water reservoir mounted on said pump assembly with a portion thereof below the Water level in said well; an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit connecting said chamber with the bottom of said reservoir; means for 'intermittently applying uid pressure to the contents of said reservoir;

and a conduit for conducting the contents of said reservoir to the surface of the ground during the application of ,such pressure.

19. In combination with a turbine well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft and a shaft enclosing tubing: a circulating chamber adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft, said circulating chamber being formed in said shaft enclosing tubing and surrounding said shaft whereby the rotation of said shaft is effective to set up a circulation of liquid in said chamber; a water reservoir mounted on said pump assembly with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit connecting said chamber with the bottom of said reservoir; an impeller on said shaft in said circulating chamber for maintaining a circulation of water from said reservoir through said inlet maintaining a circulating water sealthrough ab portion of said tubing to remove lubricant therefrom; and delivering .the mixture of water and lubricant so removed into a relatively large quiescent liquid body at the lower portion of said tubing out of contact with the water in .the well and outside of said shaft 'enclosing tubing wherein the lubricant is separated from the water by gravitation, said water seal being maintained between the body of separated lubricant and the water in the well.

21: In combination with a turbine Well-pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing; means for delivering lubricant into the upper end of said shaft enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said enclosing tubing and adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft; a reservoir mounted on said pump assembly with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet conduit for delivering. water from the bottom of said reservoir to said chamber; and an outlet conduit for delivering a mixture of water and oil from said chamber to said reservoir.

22. In combination with a turbine well pump l assembly having 'a water delivery conduit, a line shaft and a shaft enclosing tubing: a circulating chamber adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft, said circulating chamber being formed in said shaft enclosing tubing and surrounding said shaft whereby the rotation of said shaft is effective to set up a circulation of liquid through said chamber; a water separating reservoir mounted on said pump assembly with a portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet conduit for delivering Water from the bottom of said reservoir to said circulating chamber; and an outlet conduit for conducting a mixture of oil and water from said circulating chamber to said reservoir.

23. In combination with a turbine well pump assembly having a water delivery conduit, a line shaft and a shaft enclosing tubing: a circulating chamber adapted to receive lubricant flowing downwardly along said shaft, 'said circulating chamber being 'formed in said shaft enclosing tubing and surrounding said shaft whereby the rotation of said shaft is effective to set up a circulation of liquid through said chamber; a water separating reservoir mounted on said' pump assembly with aA portion thereof below the water level in said well; an inlet Vconduit for delivering water from the bottom of said reservoir to said circulating chamber; `an outlet conduit for conducting a mixture of`oil and-water from said circulating chamber to said reservoir;'and an impeller on said shaft in said circulating chamber for maintaining a circulation of water from said reservoir through said inlet and outlet conduits and said chamber and back into said reservoir.

24. In combination with a well pump having a vertical line shaft, a shaft enclosing tubing, and a water delivery conduit; means for delivering oil into the top of said shaft enclosing tubing; a water separating reservoir mounted on said pump assembly with a portion thereof below the level of the water in said well; a by-pass connection situated at a point above saidpump and below the water level in said well for establishing direct communication between the well andthe interior .of said enclosing tubing; a circulating chamber formed in said tubing at a point above said bypass connection and below the level of the water in' said well; an inlet connection for delivering water from the bottom of said reservoir to vsaid circulating chamber; and an outlet connection for conducting a mixture of oil and water from said circulatingfchamber to said reservoir, said inlet and outlet connection communicating with said circulating chamber at spaced points therein.

25. The method oficollecting lubricant 'at the bottom portion of the line shaft enclosing tubing in a turbine well pump which comprises: 'maintaining a relatively large quiescent body of water lo at the lower portion oi said tubing separated from the water in the well and outside of said shaft enclosing tubing; conducting lubricant from said enclosing tubing into said quiescent body of water wherein the lubricant separates by rising to the top oi said body of water; and maintaining a water seal between the bottom oisaid quiescent body and the water oi' the well thereby insuring the isolation of the separated lubricant from the water in the well.

JAMES 151.11m. I1o 

